Ahead of their season opener on Tuesday, the Boston Celtics unveiled the uniform they’ll wear for that game – their new City Edition look. This year’s city edition is designed to pay tribute to Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who passed away over the summer.

“The 2022-23 Boston Celtics City Edition uniform pays homage to Russell and features a gold motif symbolizing his incomparable career,” the Celtics said in a statement. “Russell’s legacy spanned the “Golden Era” of Celtics basketball, an unmatched run of 11 championships in 13 years. However, it was the barriers that he broke not only on the court, as the first Black head coach and a member of the first all-Black starting five, but off the court that truly made him “The Gold Standard,” a consistent reminder of what it truly means to be a Celtic. Beginning with the season opener, the team will wear this year’s City Edition uniform – a project the league and team had been collaborating on with Russell himself in recent years – a total of 11 times to reflect with the 11 NBA Championship teams he was a part of.”

In addition to the opener, other notable games the Celtics will wear the City Edition uniforms are against the Lakers on Dec. 13, against the Bucks on Christmas, against the Lakers again on Jan. 28, and against the Knicks on March 5. Here’s a closer look at some of the individual elements of the uniform…

Jersey script

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 3, 2022: Boston Celtics pose for a photoshoot wearing the 2022-23 Nike City Edition Uniform at the Auerbach Center (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE/Getty).

According to the Celtics, “the Celtics wordmark on the front of the jersey written in a script inspired by the historical Boston establishment, Slade’s Bar & Grill. Slade’s was famously owned by Bill Russell in the 1960s.” The script on the sign can be seen here. Slade’s first opened in 1935 and is located on Tremont Street.

Gold Diamonds

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 14, 2022: Photoshoot for the Boston Celtics 2022-23 Nike City Edition Uniform at TD Garden (Photo by Keith Sliney).

There are 11 gold diamonds running down each side of the uniform between the jersey and the shorts. That 11 symbolizes the 11 titles Russell won with the Celtics. Looking closely, the Celtics’ famous parquet floor is toned into the black backdrop behind the diamonds on the side panels.

No. 6

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 14, 2022: Photoshoot for the Boston Celtics 2022-23 Nike City Edition Uniform at TD Garden (Photo by Keith Sliney).

Russell’s No. 6 – which the league announced it will be retiring league-wide in his honor – is featured on the front of the waistband of the shorts. It is surrounded by 11 gold stars, again signifying Russell’s titles.

Jersey patch

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 14, 2022: Photoshoot for the Boston Celtics 2022-23 Nike City Edition Uniform at TD Garden (Photo by Keith Sliney).

This No. 6 patch will be featured on all NBA jerseys this season, as part of the league-wide tributes to Russell. The Celtics’ uniforms are of course no exception.

Jock tag

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 14, 2022: Photoshoot for the Boston Celtics 2022-23 Nike City Edition Uniform at TD Garden (Photo by Keith Sliney).

This little patch on the bottom of most uniforms is called a ‘jock tag.’ Above it, a phrase acknowledging the tie in with the “golden era.”

More photos

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 14, 2022: Photoshoot for the Boston Celtics 2022-23 Nike City Edition Uniform at TD Garden (Photo by Keith Sliney).

Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].